Idi-Oro Fracas: LASG prosecutes 39 notorious miscreants

The Lagos state government has prosecuted 39 out of the 68 arrested notorious miscreants during the fracas at Idi-oro area of Mushin on Monday, April 24, 2017.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi who disclosed this said that the 39 prosecuted miscreants were youths leaders and gang members from Alamutu Street and Akala Elegba boys.

Reports had it that the youths had engaged themselves in a free for all fracas that resulted into loss of lives with serious looting of valuable properties of innocent traders which includes several food items, burning of houses, shops around Idi-Oro.

Speaking on the role of parents in the maintenance of law and order, SP Egbeyemi urged parents and guidance to always monitor the activities of their wards as the government would not spare anyone or group of persons caught breaching peace being enjoyed by the citizens across the nooks and crannies of the state.

He said, “a total of 68 miscreants were arrested at the scene, 29 who did not have direct connections to the fracas were properly screened and released leaving 39. After the Lagos state Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni was well briefed about these 39 miscreants, he directed that they all be charged to court.

“They were charged on 4 counts at the Lagos State Mobile Court for breach of peace, Unlawful possession of weed suspected to be indian hemp, obstructing security officers while discharging their lawful duties and roaming around streets without legitimate livelihood/homes.”

Magistrate Tosin Ojuromi who presided over at the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi sentenced 15 of them who pleaded ‘guilty’ to 18 months imprisonment with fines option ranging from N150, 000 to N200, 000 respectively.

16 of the accused persons who pleaded ‘not guilty’ were granted bail with two sureties (40 years above) of like sum of N250, 000 each, evidence of three years tax clearance and must deposit N50,000 to Lagos state government.

While the remaining eight accused persons were ‘discharged and acquitted’ by the court after proper identifications.

Those who pleaded ‘not guilty ‘ had their cases adjourned till Thursday, May 25, 2017 for commencement of trials.

The Registrar of the Lagos State Mobile Court Mr. Ibrahim Oseni disclosed after the court proceedings that the Lagos state government provided free legal services for all the 36 accused persons through Barrister Abdulsalam Bashir from the ‘Office of Public Defenders.’

The court further pronounced that recovered 6 full bags of weed suspected to be indian hemp be immediately destroyed in the public with coverage.